6-1 Notes:


Bold Words:
• Republic: A form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders.
• Consuls: Rome had 2 Consuls that commanded the army and directed government. Power was limited, 1 year long. Same person could not be elected again until 10 years later. One consul could overrule the other's decision.
• Senate: Aristocratic branch of Rome's government- had legislative, administrative functions in the republic. 300 Members were chosen from the upper class of Roman Society. Later, Plebeians were allowed in the senate. Senate exercised influence on foreign and domestic policy.
• Dictator: A leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army. Power only lasted for 6 months. They were chosen by consuls and then elected by the senate.
• Legions:
- Roman Soldiers were organized into large military units.
- Made up of 5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers (infantry)
- soldiers on horseback (Cavalry) supported each legion
- They were divided into 80 men (century)

Key People:
• Patricians- the wealthy landowners who held most of the power.
• Plebeians- the common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up the majority of the population.
• Tribunes: A representative who protected the rights of Plebeians form unfair acts of patricians officials.
• Hannibal: A 29 year old Carthaginian general who was a brilliant military strategist who wanted to avenge Carthage's earlier defeat.

Key Events:

The Origins of Rome:
• Legend- 753 B.C. the city of Rome was found by Romulus and Remus and were the sons of the god Mars and a Latin Princess. They were raised by a she-wolf where they decided to build a city.
• Reality- Men who built the city, chose it because of its strategic locations and fertile soil.

Rome's Geography:
- Rome was built on seven rolling hills at a curve near the Tiber River
- the center of the Italian Penninsulla
- It was midway between the Alps and Italy's southern tip
- near the Mediterranean Sea.

The First Romans:
• 1000- 500 B.C. The Latins, The Greeks and the Etruscans battled for control.
• The Latins were considered the first romans and they built the original settlement of Rome which was a cluster of Wooden houses on Paletine Hill.
• 750- 600 B.C. the Greeks established colonies along southern Italy and Sicily, prosperous and commercially active. They brought all of Italy, and Rome into contact with Greek Civilization.
• Etruscans were native to northern Italy and were skilled metal workers and engineers. They influenced the Roman civilization including a writing system, alphabet, architecture, use of arch.

The Early Republic:
• 600 B.C. Etruscan became Rome's King and Rome eventually covered nearly 500 square miles. Various kings wanted temples and public centers- most famous was the Forum (The heart of Roman Political Life)
• Last king was Tarquin the Proud who was a harsh tyrant- driven from power in 509 B.C. Romans declared they would never be ruled again by king, was ruled a public by the latin phrase: "res publica" meaning "pubic affairs." Only free-born male citizens could vote.

Patricians and Plebeians:
• Patricians
• Plebeians
Patricians and Plebeians:
• Patricians claimed got authority to make laws for Rome because of ancestry
• Plebeians were citizens of Rome with the right to vote
- couldn't vote for important government positions.
- formed their own assembly and elect representative called tribunes

Twelve Tables:
• Written law code - 451 B.C. ten officials began writing down Rome's laws on twelve tablets and hung in the Forum. It established the idea that all free citizens had a right to the protection of law.

Government Under the Republic:
• 1st Century B.C.- Rome achieved a balanced government by balancing monarchy, aristocracy, and a democracy. Consuls, Senate, Dictator.
• The assemblies represented the more democratic side of government. For example, the tribal assembly.

The Roman Army:
• All citizens who owned land had to serve in the military, public officials had to serve in the military for 10 years.
• Roman military organization a fighting skill of the army were key factors in Rome's greatness.

Rome Spreads Its Power

Rome Conquers Italy:
• 4th century B.C. - Romans got central Italy and defeated Etruscans to the north and Greek city-states to the South, by 265 B.C. Romans were master of nearly all Italy.
• 1) Latins on the Tiber were full citizens of Rome,
2) territories further than Rome had all the right of Roman citizenship except to vote
3) Allies of Rome supplied troops for the Roman army and weren't friends with other states. They helped to build a long- lasting empire.
•256 B.C. Roman power spreads further

Rome's Commercial Network:
• Mediterranean Sea- They traded wine, olive oil for foods, raw materials, manufactured goods from others.
• Carthage(North African Coast) interfered with Roman trade, their rise to power put it in direct opposition with Rome.

War with Carthage:
• 264 B.C. - 146 B.C. Punic Wars- Rome and Carthage
- 264-241 B.C. 1) Carthage Control of Sicily and western Mediterranean
- 218 B.C. - 216 B.C.2) Hannibal assembled an army of 50,00 infantry, 9,000 Calvary, and 60 elephants with the intent of capturing Rome. He lead his army up and down the Italian Peninsula. He won his greatest victory at Cannae. - Didn't capture Rome.

Rome Triumphs:
• 2) Scipio - Roman general came up with a plan to attack Carthage. The strategy forced Hannibal to return to defend his native city. 202 B.C. at Zama, Romans defeated Hannibal.
• 3) 149 B.C. - 146 B.C. 3) Rome set afire and its 50,000 inhabitations sold into slavery at Carthage. Made a Roman Providence.
• Rome dominated western and eastern Mediterranean. 70 B.C. Empire stretched from Anatolia - Spain